1801. "On Mr. Jefferson's accession to the Presidency the mayor and corporation had waited on him, requesting to be informed, which was his birthday, as they wished to celebrate it with proper respect. 'The only birthday I ever commemorate,' replied he, 'is that of our Independence, the Fourth of July.'" <ref>[[Short Title List|Smith, ''First Forty Years'']], p. 398</ref>

+

According to James A. Bear, Jr., no reference has been found in [[Thomas Jefferson|Jefferson's]] or his family's papers to a private celebration of any of his eighty-three birthdays.<ref>This article is based on KKO, Monticello Research Report, April 20, 1993.</ref> Neither were public levees or galas held during his lifetime to mark the day. Jefferson himself seems to have actively discouraged public observances of his birthday:

-

1803 Aug. 30. "...disapproving myself of transferring the honors and veneration for the great birthday of our republic to any individual, or of dividing them with individuals, I have declined letting my own birthday be known, and have engaged my family not to communicate it. This has been the uniform answer to every application of the kind." - Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln<ref>[[Short Title List|Ford]], 8:246</ref>

+

'''1801.''' "On Mr. Jefferson's accession to the Presidency the mayor and corporation had waited on him, requesting to be informed, which was his birthday, as they wished to celebrate it with proper respect. 'The only birthday I ever commemorate,' replied he, 'is that of our Independence, the Fourth of July.'" <ref>[[Short Title List|Smith, ''First Forty Years'']], 398.</ref>

-

According to James A. Bear, Jr., no reference has been found in Jefferson's or his family's papers to a private celebration of any of his eighty-three birthdays. Neither were public levees or galas held during his lifetime to mark the day. The first public celebration of Jefferson's birthday was held on 13 April 1830, at the Indian Queen Tavern in Washington, with Virginia congressman John Roane presiding over the more than 150 attendees.

+

'''30 August 1803.''' "...disapproving myself of transferring the honors and veneration for the great birthday of our republic to any individual, or of dividing them with individuals, I have declined letting my own birthday be known, and have engaged my family not to communicate it. This has been the uniform answer to every application of the kind." - Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln<ref>[[Short Title List|Ford]], 8:246.</ref>

-

+

-

--Original author: KKO, Monticello Research Department, 20 April 1993

+

+

The first public celebration of Jefferson's birthday was held on 13 April 1830, at the Indian Queen Tavern in Washington, with Virginia congressman John Roane presiding over the more than 150 attendees.

== Footnotes ==

== Footnotes ==

Current revision

According to James A. Bear, Jr., no reference has been found in Jefferson's or his family's papers to a private celebration of any of his eighty-three birthdays.[1] Neither were public levees or galas held during his lifetime to mark the day. Jefferson himself seems to have actively discouraged public observances of his birthday:

1801. "On Mr. Jefferson's accession to the Presidency the mayor and corporation had waited on him, requesting to be informed, which was his birthday, as they wished to celebrate it with proper respect. 'The only birthday I ever commemorate,' replied he, 'is that of our Independence, the Fourth of July.'" [2]

30 August 1803. "...disapproving myself of transferring the honors and veneration for the great birthday of our republic to any individual, or of dividing them with individuals, I have declined letting my own birthday be known, and have engaged my family not to communicate it. This has been the uniform answer to every application of the kind." - Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln[3]

The first public celebration of Jefferson's birthday was held on 13 April 1830, at the Indian Queen Tavern in Washington, with Virginia congressman John Roane presiding over the more than 150 attendees.

Footnotes

↑ This article is based on KKO, Monticello Research Report, April 20, 1993.